The removal of the Verwoerd commemorative plaque from the Accounting and Statistics Building (formerly known as the HF Verwoerd Building) illustrates the commitment of Stellenbosch University to create a welcoming campus for all and to remove obstacles in the path of unity and progress (video of the event).
This is the contents of a declaration read by Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU) today (Wednesday 27 May 2015). Members of the Stellenbosch community and SU staff and students attended the historic occasion.
Dr Wilhelm Verwoerd, grandson of HF Verwoerd, a former South African Prime Minister, spoke at the event: "My sincere hope is that this ceremonial full stop behind the public honouring of painful apartheid symbols at the University will indeed convey a much-needed message of acknowledgement, and that the removal of this Verwoerd plaque will thus play a small, but significant healing role within the wider South African society."
He shared with the audience the turmoil he experienced over years of his grandfather as a symbol of a hated political system on the one hand, but also of him as a loved granddad.
In referring to the wounds that apartheid caused, he said: "What I can do is today again to make a choice – in public, as a Verwoerd – for salve instead of salt. Deep listening gave my gut a glimpse of the wounding that those on the receiving end of apartheid associate with the name Verwoerd; the urgent heartbeat behind those clenched fists brought home to me their profound hunger for sincere acknowledgement by those who share responsibility for their woundedness."
Two student leaders, Ms Farai Mubaiwa and Mr Stefan Laing, also spoke at the event.
Ms Mubaiwa said, "Today is a good day, maybe late, but still a good day. This is a day that Stellenbosch University chooses humanity. We cannot preach inclusivity, and yet have non-inclusive remnants on our campus."
She referred to myths on campus of which one is 'If it is not broken, don't fix it', but the sad reality is that "it is not fine – simply using catch phrases such as 'inclusivity' and 'diversity' does not automatically transform an institution."
Mr Laing said that the removal or changing of certain elements on campus engender a welcoming atmosphere for all and this should be celebrated.
"The removal of the plaque will mean nothing if we don't remove the plaques of apartheid from our hearts as well. We cannot hope for bright future if we cling to a dark past."
Prof Nico Koopman, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, acted programme director for the night and said that the removal of the plaque "takes place in the context of SU's exciting journey of being focused on the future, renewal and transformation, from exclusion to inclusion, towards excellence through inclusivity and diversity".
With the reading of the declaration, Prof De Villiers emphasised that SU is serious about transformation which is integral to education. "We are removing something form the past today; now let us work together to put in place building blocks for the future we want for our University."
The plaque will temporarily be stored in the University Archives. At the event the plaque was removed by removed by Prof De Villiers and Mr Willie Ortell, former Mayor of Stellenbosch. It as replaced – by Mubaiwa and Laing – with a poster of the South African flag, as a symbol of unity, as well as the declaration. All attendees also had the opportunity to add their names to a large canvas of the South African flag and the declaration.
Click below for:
- Video of the event
- Declaration
- Prof De Villiers' speech
- Dr Wilhelm Verwoerd's speech
- Ms Mubaiwa's speech
- Prof Nico Koopman's speech
- Mr Laing's speech
- Previous article with further background
Photographs by Anton Jordaan
